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Cantonese Perfection at MGM Grand

An exotic fruit platter is the perfect antidote to Vegas' scalding summer temps.

After a slew of recent restaurant openings, choosing where to dine can be tough in a growing culinary scene like Las Vegas. But if Cantonese cuisine is top of mind, hit up Hakkasan Restaurant, a global phenomenon that began in London and ventured its way to The Strip’s MGM Grand this April.

The restaurant is only half the fun: Hakkasan’s bigger component is its nightclub and lounge, spaced out over three floors above the restaurant's private dining level. While the club attracts resident DJs such as Deadmau5, Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki, and Dada Life, everyone from trendsetting clubbers to full-on foodies are popping in to dine on crispy quail, lettuce wraps, and truffled meatballs before heading upstairs to the lively nightlife space.

Unlike trends that are reaching the point of over-saturation (see: high-end burger joints, gourmet pizza, and gastropubs), Hakkasan’s food is refreshingly unique—mostly because it’s not easy to find mind-blowing Asian fusion food. From its extensive and playful cocktail menu down to the staple dishes, like pot stickers and wok-fried Wagyu beef, Hakkasan gets it right.

The crispy duck salad is Hakkasan’s signature, and has been since the first location opened in London. (Helmed by chef Ho Chee Boon, Hakkasan London holds a Michelin star; Boon hopes his Vegas location can score one as well.) Other must-haves? The dim sum platters, spicy prawns, roasted silver cod with Champagne and Chinese honey, fried soft shell crab, and clay pot of tofu, shiitake mushroom and eggplant.

In addition to impeccable service, the experience is heightened by the restaurant’s sultry vibe, as each table section is decorated with “cages”—latticed wood walls that allow for just the right amount of see-and-be-seen allure. 3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702-891-3838